M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host IPL 2026 final, a play-off match: KSCA secretary Santosh Menon

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary, Santosh Menon, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 home games. He also confirmed that the venue will host the IPL 2026 final, along with one of the play-off matches in the tournament.

Santosh Menon said that RCB will play five league matches in Bengaluru, with the city also set to host a playoff game and the final of the Indian Premier League 2026 season at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“They (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) have agreed to play five games in Bengaluru, and the playoff will also be played in Bengaluru, and the biggest news is the final of the IPL will also be played in Bengaluru. The fans are going to be entertained at the inaugural function — the date will be shortly announced — followed by the first match, five league games, one play-off game and the final. This is what the BCCI has committed to us and probably they will announce the schedule shortly. The RCB roar is going to echo again in the Chinnaswamy Stadium,” said the KSCA secretary.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Santosh Menon, Secretary, Karnataka State Cricket Association says, “They (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) have agreed to play five games in Bengaluru, and the playoff will also be played in Bengaluru, and the biggest news is the final of the IPL will also be… pic.twitter.com/SCq25gkDaD

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2026

Notably, RCB’s remaining two home matches of their IPL 2026 campaign will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

RCB, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “RCB extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Karnataka Police for their unwavering guidance, cooperation and support in facilitating the hosting of matches in Bengaluru. The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground,” a statement stated.

Rajesh Menon, CEO, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said, “The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground; it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”

“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon said.

Cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been suspended since June last year after 11 people died and several were injured in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 title celebration. (ANI)